Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-11-11

aught that is won't to inspire others
with awe. could humble me or cause
/ me to lower my gaze; and if you be-
held me in embarrassment, it was from
no other cause than my intense admira-
tion Of one Of the Creators most beau
tltul masterpieces.
His eye met that Of the lovely Laura,
/ and In her blushing cheeks and droop-
ing lashes it could not escape him that
| Panoifo's daughter participated in his
feelings. The spell Of enchantment
/ was upon them, and before either
had exchanged speech the mute
I language of the eye assured each
that they were loved. Unconscious y
| PanOlfo fed the flame for the more con-
descendingly he played the patron TO
the artist, the more sympathetic grew
Laura's glauces, and the more anxious
she appeared 10 atone for the pain of
humiliation OccasiOned by her fathers
manner.
"They tell me, sir, ." began the mer-
chant, that you are not wanting in
talent, but that you are poor and in
need Of work. / have always taken
pleasure in fostering the arts, so we
Will see whether you deserve ones pat
ronage"
Ribera bit his lip and howed--it was
all he could trust himself to do. Laura
noticed the scarcely hidden pay of his
features, and to sOothe the rising storm,
said sweetly:
you are a stranger here, sir?"
Her voice seemed to touch every
chord in the painters heart. His brow
grew smooth aga u as he replied:
Il was born in Spain, signora, near
Valencia have been in Rome,
Venice. Florence, and Parma; in every
place have visited 1 have left traces
of my work behind me; wherever tie
divine art Of painting dOurishes there l
have gat Iered honey rs a bee from
summer flowers. / am now settled at
Naples and never intend to leave 1t, "
with a meaning glance at Laura.
"What induces yOu, sir painter, to
give this CITY your gracious preference? ?"
asked PanOlfo, with a sneering smile.
Although Ribera felt the blood slowly
rising to his face. he managed to answer
calmly, That is q secret, sIgnOr."
You are too curious, father" said
Laura throwing a little oil on this in
cipien5 cOndagruti IN. "SignOr RiOera
oubtIess wishes you to inter that he
ores"
"Yes. signor," said Ribera, Il love.
and with Al ardOr that viii last for my
hfel"
"a truce to this fencing, " iIupatiently
said Panolfo. LET US come to bust
ness Come, my good sir, are you
minded to earn fivosand-tWenty ducats
But you have not yet informed me what
branch Of your art yea pursue?"
'Iel me only, said Ribera, what
YOU think of ordering"
81 sign for my 1garerOogai'
This vas too much. Ribera "A owed
as if to rise, bat an implOring ge Iture
from Laura RESTRAIN d him; his an ger,
however, was so grsat that he co uld
rot find words to say whether or not he
this proposal
Are you not inclined for it?" "a I'd
Panolfo. "Whv, it would be the fnes
possible opportunity of making yolr
self known, and If you have anv taleut
you could have nj, better way Of show
ing it to the public. Do something de-
cent for me, and all my fellow mer-
chants will give you commissions forth
with"
"Wnl you trust the choice Of a sub
iect to me2" said Riberas with sudden
animation. "On no other condition
viii undertake your commissions
well" replied the merchant. al
have confidence in your taste; do wat
you like for me-.
"AnI what price do you stipulate
for?" asked Ribera, with a smile Of
bitterness.
"As 1 told you before, five and
twenty ducats; and that, according to
nv notion, is paying the thing well.
You need only make a beginning, and,
if / am satisfied, 1 will let you paint
my portrait too, and double the
amount. You see, 1 know how to do
things"
my thanks 50 you" cried Rjbera,
rising to his majestic height. Had
you left it to me, I should have slii
five hundred ducats as the price; but /
only ask to fix the picture shall paint
for You for one single day over the
door of your house and 10 shall not
cost you so much as q breath. You are
in the right. I must make myself
known, and I seize the opportunity
that presents itself You may give 1t
out publicly signOr, that you have
concluded q good bargain with the first
painter in Naples. In a short time we
shall meet again. Adieu, signOr.
Farewell, signora."
Ribera slowly Withdrew. As he
fingered a moment beneath the window
OF the room he had Just Quilted,
purse fell Mt his feet. 1t contained 500
ducats, and q slip OF paper on which
was written in delicate characters:
~My hand and fortune for the first
painter in Naples"
A few DAYS after the occurrences mar
rated above. a large crowd was assem-
bled in front of Panollo's house. Every
one was pointing toward it or claPping
his hands. and asking the name Of the
artist who. during the preceding night,
had erected as q sign the magnificent
picture Of the Martyrdom of st. Bar
th1lomeW. The enth Isiasm Of the
throng soon manifested itself in We
hement clamOr. Never till then had
such a subject found such an inter
prefer; never till then had the pencil
of mortal man scared to so high a de-
gree of expression and power.
The news soon spread over the town,
and the crowd in the grand square
grew so large at last that the vicerOy
hims III became anxious to know the
reason. Accompanied, therefore, by
his favOri es, he repaired 10 the spot
opposite the house Of PanOlfO, and,
seized with astOnishment and admira-
ton at the sight, cried aloud:
"WhO painted this masterpiece ?"
There was no reply.
sWhy does the artist conceal him
self?" continued he. "Let him come
forward and rely on nv protection
All the painters Of Naples shall be
! schOOled by him. Once more. whose
masterpiece is this =
at Is mine, signOr," cried RlberGs
stepping forth from the crowd
mhEhn ava Hhnrr lm